Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji blesses:
ਸੰਗ ਸਖਾ ਸਭਿ ਤਜਿ ਗਏ ਕੋਊ ਨ ਨਿਬਹਿਓ ਸਾਥਿ ॥ ੫੫॥
संग सखा सभि तजि गए कोऊ न निबहिओ साथि ॥
My nearest and dearest have all left me, no relationship has endured. (1429: Salok 55)
I’ve often wondered about this Salok as to what drove Guru Ji to make such an emphatic statement, that one day all your loved ones will abandon you to the mercy of forces beyond your control. Surely, there must be some loving person, son, daughter, elder, friend who still loves and cares for you. The Corona virus has unravelled this mystery for me. Individuals with large loving families & friends have departed alone because of the government quarantine & other pronouncements, plus the ferocity of the demon COVID-19. In some cases, families have refused to claim the bodies of their kith & kin to perform the last rites; organisations such as Shaheed Bhagat Singh Seva Dal (and other charities) undertook to do the needful. Thus, one is left to the mercy of God, who manifests in the form of angels to do God’s Work.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਬਿਪਤਿ ਮੈ ਟੇਕ ਏਕ ਰਘੁਨਾਥ ॥੫੫॥
कहु नानक इह बिपति मै टेक एक रघुनाथ ॥५५॥
Says Nanak, in this predicament, the Lord alone is my support and sanctuary. (1429: Salok 55)
On this note another Salok of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji comes to mind:
ਸੁਖ ਮੈ ਬਹੁ ਸੰਗੀ ਭਏ ਦੁਖ ਮੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਭਜੁ ਮਨਾ ਅੰਤਿ ਸਹਾਈ ਹੋਇ ॥੩੨॥
सुख मै बहु संगी भए दुख मै संगि न कोइ ॥ कहु नानक हरि भजु मना अंति सहाई होइ ॥३२॥
Many will gladly share in your good fortune, but no one sticks around in adversity.
*Says Nanak, remember the One who will help and accompany you to the end. *
(1428: Salok 32)
May Waheguru, Ishwar, God, look after you & all your loved ones.
(rs ‘arshi’ 16/6/20j
ed. 21/9/20